Flood crisis escalating day by day

MORE Queensland towns are preparing for evacuation as dozens of Rockhampton residents are forced to leave and thousands remain homeless in Emerald.

Major roads into Rockhampton and the airport are likely to be cut today as the Fitzroy River rises.

Floodwater on its way to the catchment has left devastated communities in its wake.

The floods that have crippled huge parts of Queensland this week cover the equivalent of France and Germany combined, swamping more than 22 cities and towns.

There are more than 200,000 people affected, the clean-up bill is expected to stretch into billions of dollars and forecasts predict three more weeks of flooding.

Roads out of Rockhampton are expected to be cut for days with the river predicted to peak at 9.4m on Tuesday.

The small south-west township of Surat, inland from Dalby, has been put on alert for evacuation as floodwaters make their way through the region.

In the Central Highlands, more than 1200 residents of Emerald have registered as evacuees and more than 500 are in evacuation centres.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, visiting the flooded towns with Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday, said the flood crisis was expected to worsen. The army started building makeshift emergency accommodation outside Emerald.

“Authorities think there will be a very large group of people who will be homeless in the next 24 hours,” Ms Bligh said.

It is estimated that 80% of Emerald is inundated with water. Emergency response crews are planning food drops. The Fairbairn Dam at Emerald was at 175% capacity yesterday.

Central Highlands Mayor Peter Maguire said authorities were still trying to determine how many homes and businesses were flooded.

“It’s not an easy task,” he said. “We haven’t got a real feel for how many homes have been evacuated.”

Displaced Theodore residents may be forced to wait weeks before they can return home.

Floodwaters had started to drop but yesterday they rose again and were expected to peak to Tuesday’s level.

Extra police officers have been deployed to communities that have been evacuated. Yesterday there had been no reports of looting.

In most parts of south-west Queensland, floodwaters have started to recede.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donations can be made in person at any Queensland branch of the Bank of Queensland, ANZ, NAB, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, or Suncorp.

Cheques can be made out to the Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal, or go click below.